Most people are familiar with the acronym smart in relation to goal setting. S= specific, M= measurable, A= achievable, R= realistic T= time-bound.  A more feely touchy dimension is added if E=exciting, and R=rewarding are added.

However, for most people, goals are a bit like New Year’s resolutions. A great idea at the time but rarely sustained after the first enthusiasm wears off. It seems the road to failure is so often paved with good intentions.
 
The problem for most people is that achieving goals is most often underpinned by saving money and, if saving is not reinforced by the extent of the reward, it is hard to sustain. That’s why having to go without something to achieve saving makes this activity even more difficult. We are often told that going without a latte a day can take years off a mortgage. But, even though this is a small luxury to go without, the sacrifice has to be made daily in order to achieve a very long term objective.
 
However, every time we give up a dream we are compromising some aspect of our true selves.
    
According to Robyn Simpson, author of “Attitude, Aptitude Altitude! “,” happiness comes from being your true self no matter what others think or say.” As a high performance attitude coach, Robyn’s message is a simple but strong one and her “happiness” solution is based on identifying what you want then setting, maintaining and achieving your dreams by establishing deadlines. In other words, Simpson’s solution is all about goal setting.

 For many people the word goal gives them that sinking feeling which cuts right back to that school report where the damning words not achieved or under achiever have been seeded. Goals are also attached to the idea of sporting excellence which, by definition, creates more losers than winners.  But if the idea of comparison with others is taken off the table and the only competitor is yourself then, all you really have do, is identify specifically what you truly want, then apply the SMART strategy to attain it.

At Equitus we believe our clients succeed as soon as they understand who they need money for and have had us design a plan that is specific to their needs, is realistic, measurable and achievable within a monthly and yearly time frame. But what reinforces our client’s success and is both exciting and rewarding is that our cash flow projections show people just how consistently they are progressing towards truly advantaging themselves and the people they love.

Contributor: Linda Hart